Generation and analysis of correlated pairs of photons on board a nanosatellite

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Tang, Zhongkan and Chandrasekara, Rakhitha and Tan, Yue Chuan and Cheng, Cliff and Sha, Luo and Hiang, Goh Cher and Oi, Daniel K. L. and Ling, Alexander (2016) Generation and analysis of correlated pairs of photons on board a nanosatellite. Physical Review Applied, 5 (5). 054022. ISSN 2331-7043 (https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.5.054022)

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Abstract

Satellites carrying sources of entangled photons could establish a global quantum network, enabling private encryption keys between any two points on Earth. Despite numerous proposals, demonstration of space-based quantum systems has been limited due to the cost of traditional satellites. We are using very small spacecraft to accelerate progress. We report the in-orbit operation of a photon pair source aboard a 1.65 kg nanosatellite and demonstrate pair generation and polarization correlation under space conditions. The in-orbit photon correlations exhibit a contrast of 97+/-2%, matching ground-based tests. This pathfinding mission overcomes the challenge of demonstrating in-orbit performance for the components of future entangled photon experiments. Ongoing operation establishes the in-orbit lifetime of these critical components. More generally, this demonstrates the ability for nanosatellites to enable faster progress in space-based research.

ORCID iDs

Tang, Zhongkan, Chandrasekara, Rakhitha, Tan, Yue Chuan, Cheng, Cliff, Sha, Luo, Hiang, Goh Cher, Oi, Daniel K. L. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0965-9509 and Ling, Alexander;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:56658
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    31 May 2016
    Published
    11 May 2016
    Accepted
    Subjects:Science > Physics
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:14 Jun 2016 15:32
    Last modified:17 Dec 2024 01:15
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/56658
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